Hi there,I've the Gaggia Classic from about two months and I've never backflushed with a detergent (I backflush with water after each session). The main reason is that I haven't understood if there is a problem with the screen show holder that is made of aluminium (I known there is a brass version).

As far I've understood, Cafiza (and the other similar detergents) can damage the aluminium parts (that will become black eventually) and I am a little worried for health consequences.

Questions:

Can Cafiza damage the aluminium parts?

Which aluminium parts are involved during the backflushing (only the screen show holder)?

When I should replace the aluminium parts (assuming to use Cafiza every other week)?

Does it make sense the remove the screen show holder before backflushing?

Replacing the screen show holder made of aluminium with one made of brass will I avoid this kind if problems?

My idea, from what I've read in various posts, is that Cafiza can damage the screen show holder, but this is not dangerous. In any case after a while (1 year?) I'd like to replace it with one made of brass

Aluminum parts are a concern for de-scale because acid is used. In reality that is a minimal concern if you do not use prolonged contact, and then flush the acid. If you want to drive yourself crazy, read about aluminum and health. You may find that the reading and concern will cause you more problems than the aluminum itself :) Or perhaps the Gaggia owners have forgotten their concerns already having ingested too much aluminum, but, YMMV :)

The backflush agents are considered safe enough, and Gaggia has its own brand cleaning tablets, and most are similar. My dispersion disk is not black and the contact is short time trying to remove oils. "Can" it cause damage? Not sure that answer.

Backflush is from basket back through a group passage and down to the drip tray, so I believe the only aluminum is the dispersion disk. I have not replaced the disk as the brass one is fairly expensive.

I don't remove the disk with backflush, just the screen. Remove the disk with de-scale. If you remove the disk, you will still need to clean it in the same or similar solution.

Aluminum parts are a concern for de-scale because acid is used. In reality that is a minimal concern if you do not use prolonged contact, and then flush the acid. If you want to drive yourself crazy, read about aluminum and health. You may find that the reading and concern will cause you more problems than the aluminum itself :) Or perhaps the Gaggia owners have forgotten their concerns already having ingested too much aluminum, but, YMMV :)

The backflush agents are considered safe enough, and Gaggia has its own brand cleaning tablets, and most are similar. My dispersion disk is not black and the contact is short time trying to remove oils. "Can" it cause damage? Not sure that answer.

Backflush is from basket back through a group passage and down to the drip tray, so I believe the only aluminum is the dispersion disk. I have not replaced the disk as the brass one is fairly expensive.

I don't remove the disk with backflush, just the screen. Remove the disk with de-scale. If you remove the disk, you will still need to clean it in the same or similar solution.

You will get grounds above the screen and cleaners will not remove them. In practice, I backflush daily with water by ending the sessions with a brief rinse through the group, then use a blind basket and water backflush. I do not remove the screen for that. I only chemical backflush about every 3 - 4 weeks and I do remove the screen. I also wipe the aluminum dispersion disk and get off a lot of loose but not removed oils.

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